A Group of People in Gegharkunik Harassed and Insulted Patrol Officers

Five residents of the village of Artsvanist in the Martuni community of Gegharkunik Province have been arrested on charges of assaulting, tugging at, and insulting patrol officers. The information was reported by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

The incident occurred on March 15 around 22:00. The patrol officers, while traveling on a village road, noticed a resident of the same village standing in the middle of the road, who had not moved aside and was shouting insults at the police officers performing their duties.

“The police officers attempted to administratively detain him for his verbal abuse, but his father interfered with the actions of the patrol officers, began to insult them, and physically tugged at the police,” the statement said.

According to the Investigative Committee, three other residents of the same village intervened in the argument, assaulting the police officers with their hands and fists. The five individuals involved in the altercation were arrested on the basis of reasonable suspicion of committing a crime.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 452 of the RA Criminal Code, featuring interference with the lawful service or political activities of a public official. Necessary investigative and procedural actions are being conducted to clarify the full circumstances of the incident, and a forensic examination has been ordered.

The Investigative Committee urges citizens, in case of disagreement with the actions of public officials performing their duties, to refrain from engaging in illegal behavior and to contest any alleged unlawful actions through appropriate administrative or criminal proceedings.